Shoe Lace Apparatus and Locking Mechanism

ABSTRACT

Shoe Laces and locking apparatus for locking laces without trying the laces, the apparatus including an opening for holding a lace or laces in a locked configuration. The apparatus may include a slit for passing a lace into the locking opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to application Ser. No. 61/484,223, Attorney Docket CE001US, entitled “Shoe Lace Apparatus and Locking Mechanism”, and filed on May 10, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to shoe lacings and in particular systems and apparatus for locking the laces without trying the laces.

2. Description of Related Art

It may be desirable to lock shoe laces without trying the laces, the present invention provides apparatus for locking laces and laces not requiring trying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of a lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a simplified partial isometric diagram of a lace locking apparatus partially deflected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a simplified diagram of an elastic lace in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a simplified diagram of another elastic lace in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a simplified diagram of a lace being inserted into a lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a simplified diagram of a lace locked into a lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a simplified diagram of a lace stretched for movement in the lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified partial isometric diagram of lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram of a shoe in which the present invention may be employed;

FIG. 6A is a simplified partial diagram of a lace in a shoe locked into a lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6B is a simplified partial diagram of a lace in a locked into a lace locking apparatus, the apparatus embedded in a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of lace locking apparatus with inserted lace in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a simplified partial diagram of lace locking apparatus opening with inserted lace in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of lace locking apparatus with inserted lace in an open or released mode in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8B is a simplified partial isometric diagram of lace locking apparatus with inserted lace in a closed or locked mode in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout this description, embodiments and variations are described for the purpose of illustrating uses and implementations of the invention. The illustrative description should be understood as presenting examples of the invention, rather than as limiting the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of a lace locking apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 1B is a simplified partial isometric diagram of the lace locking apparatus 10 partially deflected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The locking apparatus 10 may be any shape having a diameter or area greater than the eyelets 54 of shoe 50 (FIG. 5) where the locking apparatus 10, 40A, 40B may be employed (FIG. 6A) or embedded in the shoe 50 shoulder 52 (FIG. 5). The locking apparatus 10 may include a slit 14 coupled to an opening 12. The opening may be any shape including circular where the opening area 12 is larger than the width of a lace 22A in a stretched or elongated shape (small diameter 22C) (FIG. 3C) and small enough to securely engage one or more laces 22A, lace ends, or a loop of a lace 22A in a restored shape (larger diameter 22B shown in FIG. 3B). The locking apparatus may be comprised of any flexible or semi-flexible material including plastic, metals, or alloys. The opening 12 may include barbs or teeth 13D of opening 12D of FIGS. 7A to 8B to further hold laces 22A securely. In an embodiment a lace material 22A may include elastic and inelastic components and may have various modulus of elasticity.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are simplified diagrams of laces 20A, 20B in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The laces 20A, 20B material 22A may include elastic and inelastic components and may have various modulus of elasticity. The lace 20A (FIG. 2A) may include perpendicular aglets or bars 24A, 26A on one or more ends. The bar 24A, 26A may be sized to be smaller than the diameter of a shoe 50 eyelets 54 in an embodiment. The bars 24A, 26A may be comprised of any flexible or semi-flexible material including plastic, metals, or alloys. The lace 20B (FIG. 2B) may include parallel aglets or bars 24B, 26B on one or more ends. The bar 24B, 26B may be sized to be smaller than the diameter of a shoe 50 eyelets 54 in an embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a simplified diagram of a lace insertion process for inserting a lace 20B into a lace locking apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment 30 of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, a lace 22A may be stretched or elongated to extend a desired length into or through the opening 12 and then released to expand and lock into the opening 12. FIG. 3B is a simplified diagram of a lace 22A locked into a lace locking apparatus 10 opening 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3C is a simplified diagram of a lace 22A stretched or elongated for movement in the lace locking apparatus 10 opening 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as discussed above. FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified partial isometric diagrams of a lace locking apparatus 40A, 40B in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The locking apparatus 40A may have multiple openings 12A, 12B for multiple laces 22A, 22B or lace ends. The locking apparatus 40B may have multiple openings 12A, 12B, 12C for multiple laces or ends. It is noted in an embodiment that the locking apparatus 10, 40A, 40B, 40D may optionally include deflectable slits 14 (FIG. 1A), 14D (FIG. 7A). The slit 14, 14D may enable one or more ends of a lace 22A, 22B to be passed into an apparatus 10, 30, 40A, 40B, 40D opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D. The slit 14D may also include teeth 15D where the teeth may engage edges of a lace 22A, 22B when inserted in an opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and aid retention of the lace within the locking apparatus 10, 40A, 40B, 40D.

FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram of a shoe 50 in which the present invention may be employed. The shoe 50 may include a toe 58, shoulders 52, tongue 56, vamp 57, and a plurality of eyelets 54. The shoe 50 may be any type of shoe including dress and athletic that includes two or more eyelets. FIG. 6A is a simplified partial diagram of a lace 20B passed a shoe 50 eyelet 54 and locked into a lace locking apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment 60A of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6A the locking apparatus 10 may be located inside the shoe 50 and adjacent to an eyelet 54. FIG. 6B is a simplified partial diagram of a lace 20B locked into an embedded lace locking apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 may be embedded in a shoe 50 shoulder 52 adjacent an eyelet in accordance with an embodiment 60B of the present invention. The shoulder 52 material may be flexible enough to enable the locking apparatus 10 to be flexed so one or more laces 20B may be inserted into an opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E of the apparatus 10, 40A, 40B, 40D, 40E (FIGS. 8A-8B).

FIGS. 8A-8B are simplified partial isometric diagram of lace locking apparatus 40E with inserted lace in an open or released mode (FIG. 8A) or a locked or closed mode or configuration (FIG. 8B) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 8A-8B the apparatus 40E may include an opening 12E with one or more retractable teeth 13E. In the apparatus 40E a teeth release mechanism 18E may be restorably depressed as shown in FIG. 8A to cause one or more teeth 13E of the opening 12E to retract. The teeth 13E may retract to create an opening large enough for an aglet 24B, 26B or bar 24A, 26A. Upon release of the teeth release mechanism 18E, the teeth 13E may collapse towards the apparatus 40E center. A spring mechanism (not shown) may provide a restoring force to the retractable teeth 13E. As shown in FIGS. 7A, 8A, and 8B the apparatus 40D, 40E may also a recess 16D, 16E sized to receive and compressably hold an an aglet 24B, 26B or bar 24A, 26A therein. The recess 16D, 16E may enable a user to increase a lace an aglet 24B, 26B or bar 24A, 26A therein to prevent an aglet 24B, 26B or bar 24A, 26A from resting against a user's foot or ankle. It is further noted that the teeth 13D, 13E of the openings 12D, 12E may be angled so that enable a lace to extend or pass in a first direction but engage or limit the movement of the lace in second opposite direction. In an embodiment an apparatus 10, 30, 40A, 40B, 40D, 40E may have about a 0.5 to 1.5 inch diameter and about 0.1 to 0.5 inch thickness (from front to back side). An opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E may be any shape and may have an envelope from about 0.1 to 0.4 inches in diameter.

While this invention has been described in terms of a best mode for achieving the objectives of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 

1. A shoe lace locking apparatus for a lace having a first lace envelope in an un-elongated state and a second, smaller envelope in a second elongated state, including: a substantially front surface; a substantially rear surface; an opening sized to enable the lace to slide there-through when the lace is elongated and limit sliding when the lace is not substantially elongated; and a slit from extending from the front surface to the rear surface and from the opening to an edge of apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a substantially disc-like configuration.
 2. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is comprised a restorably flexible material.
 3. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is restorably deflectable to enable the slit to deflect to permit passage of a lace to the opening and return to a substantially flat state.
 4. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening includes a plurality of teeth.
 5. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 4, wherein the teeth are angled so that a lace may slideably move more easily in a first direction than a second, opposite direction.
 6. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 4, wherein the opening is sized to enable a lace loop to slide there-through when the lace loop is elongated and limit sliding when the lace loop is not substantially elongated.
 7. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 4, the lace including one or an aglet or bar at an end and the apparatus including a recess between the front surface and the rear surface, the recess sized to compressably hold a lace aglet or bar therein.
 8. A shoe lace locking apparatus for a lace having an envelope and one of an aglet or bar at an end, including: a substantially front surface; a substantially rear surface; an opening sized to enable the lace and one of an aglet or bar at an end to slide there-through; and a plurality of restorably retractable teeth that extend into the opening, the teeth retractable to enable the lace and one of an aglet or bar at an end to slide there-through, wherein the apparatus has a substantially disc-like configuration.
 9. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is comprised a restorably flexible material.
 10. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the teeth are angled so that a lace may slideably move more easily in a first direction than a second, opposite direction.
 11. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 10, wherein the opening is sized to enable a lace loop to slide there-through.
 12. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 8, the lace including one or an aglet or bar at an end and the apparatus including a recess between the front surface and the rear surface, the recess sized to compressably hold a lace aglet or bar therein.
 13. A shoe closing system including: a lace having a first envelope in an un-elongated state and a second, smaller envelope in a second elongated state; and a lace locking apparatus, the apparatus including: a substantially front surface; a substantially rear surface; an opening sized to enable the lace to slide there-through when the lace is elongated and limit sliding when the lace is not substantially elongated; and a slit from extending from the front surface to the rear surface and from the opening to an edge of apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a substantially disc-like configuration.
 14. The shoe closing system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is comprised a restorably flexible material.
 15. The shoe closing system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is restorably deflectable to enable the slit to deflect to permit passage of a lace to the opening and return to a substantially flat state.
 16. The shoe closing system of claim 13, wherein the opening includes a plurality of teeth.
 17. The shoe closing system of claim 14, wherein the teeth are angled so that a lace may slideably move more easily in a first direction than a second, opposite direction.
 18. The shoe closing system of claim 14, wherein the opening is sized to enable a lace loop to slide there-through when the lace loop is elongated and limit sliding when the lace loop is not substantially elongated.
 19. The shoe closing system of claim 14, the lace including one or an aglet or bar at an end and the apparatus including a recess between the front surface and the rear surface, the recess sized to compressably hold a lace aglet or bar therein.
 20. The shoe closing system of claim 19, the lace having a substantially flat shape and a plurality of separately, elastic strands. 